Deflectable mounting for upright mast

Abstract

A sign stand provides a resilient mounting for an upstanding mast member. A composite spring extends in a vertical direction and is clamped at its top and bottom ends by respective framework members. The upper framework provides mounting for the upright mast while the lower framework provides mounting for ground-engaging legs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sign stand assembly, comprising: a spring strip of composite spring material extending in a generally vertical direction and having top and bottom ends with top and bottom edges, respectively;   a base member including a pair of opposed clamping members cooperating to provide a shielding for the bottom edge of the spring strip and to define a slot for receiving the bottom end of the spring strip with a compressive engagement;   a mounting member-carrying a mast member and having a vertically extending mounting wall and a top wall, the mounting wall and the top wall cooperating to provide a shielding for the top edge of the spring strip;   a backing member having a vertically extending backing wall;   the mounting member further comprising a backing wall cooperating with the mounting wall to define a slot therebetween for receiving the top end of the spring strip with a compressive engagement;   first clamping means drawing said clamping members together to compressively engage the bottom end of the spring strip so as to shield the bottom edge of the spring strip from contact and so as to mount the spring strip to the base member;   second clamping means drawing said mounting wall and said backing wall together to compressively engage the top end of the spring strip so as to shield the top edge of the spring strip from contact and so as to mount the mounting member to the spring strip; and   said first and said second clamping means being fixedly attached to the spring strip at a fixed spacing from each other,   so that an unrestrained portion of the spring strip extends between the mounting member and the base member and is free to flex with loads applied to the mast member.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the spring strip defines apertures in its top and bottom ends, and said first and said second clamping means comprise fasteners extending through the apertures and engaging the clamping members and the mounting wall and the backing wall to apply a compressive engagement to the bottom and top ends of the spring strip, respectively. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting member includes a bracket having an L-shaped cross-section with a top lip portion comprising said top wall and a second portion comprising said mounting wall, said top lip portion extending from the top end of said mounting wall so as to shield the top edge of said spring strip. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mast member comprises a hollow tube attached to said mounting wall. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting member includes a bracket defining said mounting wall and having top and bottom lip portions extending in opposite horizontal directions, on either side of said mounting wall, with the mast member comprising a hollow tube attached to said mounting wall and having a bottom end adjacent the bottom lip portion of said bracket and with the top lip portion extending from the top end of said mounting wall so as to shield the top edge of said spring strip, and said top lip portion comprising said top wall. 
     
     
       6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said backing wall includes side portions extending along and facing toward said mounting wall to cooperate with the top wall and the mounting wall to enclose the top end of said spring strip. 
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting wall includes side portions extending along and facing toward said backing wall to cooperate with the top wall and the backing wall to enclose the top end of said spring strip.